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Business and Labor

March 31, 2017 (El Cajon) –“This is truly our day. We’re here to celebrate,” Sycuan Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez told a packed house during a groundbreaking on the Sycuan reservation for the tribe’s casino expansion.

The ambitious project will include a 12-story hotel resort with 300 rooms, adult pool with swim-up bar, kids pool, gardens including a 420-foot-long “lazy river,” new restaurants , spa, 60,000 in additional gaming space, and a spacious 11,401 square foot ballroom that can double as concert hall seating 1,200 or banquet room with capacity for 700. The $226 million, 500,000 square foot project is slated to open in 2019.

March 22, 2017 (Washington D.C.) — A bill in Congress, HR 1313, would allow your employer to order you to under genetic testing and share results with the company. If you refuse, you could be fined up to $1,000 or made to pay 30% more for your health insurance.

March 21, 2017 (La Mesa) – Linda McWilliams, winemaker at San Pasqual Winery in La Mesa, has picked up six more awards in the 2017 San Diego County Fair’s Toast of the Coast Wine Competition! Her latest honors include gold, silver and a special award:

March 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This afternoon, the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs voted to support AB 353, the Veterans Employment Parity Act, with unanimous support (10-0).

"The Veterans Affairs Committee took an important step today toward expanding job opportunities for our nation's veterans. With a higher unemployment rate than the national average, it's critical that we provide private employers with the option to give preference to veterans during the hiring process," said Voepel.

March 21, 2017 (San Diego) – The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce will host a Congressional Luncheon on Friday, April 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in downtown San Diego. Guests can hear directly from your local Congressional members about current activities in Washington D.C. and other federal issues related to the well being of our regional economy. Each Congressional member will provide a brief update followed by topical questions and answers.

March 21, 2017 (Alpine) --Chairman Robert Welch of Viejas Band of The Kumeyaay Indians today announced the hiring of Thomas McCartney in the role of President and General Manager of Viejas Casino and Resort. The veteran casino and gaming executive will begin his new position November 1, 2016.

March 20, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by as quarter of a point, the second increase in three months. But rates are still at a historic low range of 0.75 to 1 percent.

The hike means consumers will pay more for credit cards and home equity lines of credit and adjustable rate mortgages, but fixed rate mortgages and car loans are not expected to be affected since the anticipated change has already been calculated into those. People will also earn slightly more on savings accounts.

March 16, 2017 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Modern Dental Group (5620 Lake Murray Blvd.) is partnering with Animals, a nonprofit that provides animal services for the elderly. Any patient who brings in a bag of dogfood to donate will receive a 15 percent discount on treatment.

March 13, 2017 (Alpine) -- Alpine’s First Annual Honey Festival, held March 11th, included teaching youths in their community about the history of their land. That history includes honey and its production. In fact, this region was once the honey producing capitol of the world! Kids dressed up as bees and participated in an art show that portrayed bees and hives, with major doses of yellow and black. But teaching kids about their local history was just a part of the festival.

March 5, 2017 (San Diego) – Scott Vorarach of Spring Valley representing Certified Air Conditioning in San Diego, and Rolf Wachter of Jamul representing Interpipe Contracting in San Diego will bring medals home to San Diego from the 2017 ABC National Craft Championships.

March 4, 2017 (La Mesa) - La Mesa Chamber of Commerce held it's 9th annual Salute to Local Heroes Feb. 22 at the Town & Country Hotel to celebrate La Mesa’s 2017 local heroes.

“This year's six heroes are as important to our community as any "Best Picture" or "Best Actor" award,” says Chamber President Mary England. “They have made a tremendous impact on the lives of others.“ These heroes were recognized for some of the following feats: A baby was delivered under unusual circumstances, a young man's life was saved following a severe traffic accident, 117 stolen vehicles with an estimated value of over $1.3 million were recovered, a cold case homicide from 2014 that occurred in La Mesa was solved, firearms and illegal drugs were seized. 86 suspects were arrested, 70 search and arrest warrants were written and two Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol were honored for assisting the La Mesa Police Department in the daily tasks needed to run the organization, as well as for their thousands of volunteer hours.

February 26, 2017 (Alpine) – Alpnie was once known as the honey production capital of the world. Now here’s the buzz: On Saturday, March 11 from 10 to 4, Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce will present the first annual Honey Festival to celebrate the region’s sweet success.

February 19, 2017 (San Diego) – Over 1,200 attended Friday night’s Neighborhood Market Association (NMA) banquet at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. NMA’s Mark Arabo used the night to honor the diversity of its members, and declare the NMA the first ever “sanctuary association” in the nation.

February 17, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump has announced a new nominee to head up the Department of Labor, following fast food executive Andrew Puzder’s withdrawal of his nomination. The new nominee, Alexander Acosta, has extensive experience in labor and the law. If confirmed by the Senate, Acosta will also be the first Hispanic in Trump’s cabinet.

February 16, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – During his campaign, President Donald Trump criticized his rival, Hillary Clinton, for her ties with Wall Street and high-priced speeches to Goldman Sachs. He promised to protect Americans from Wall Street. But now he’s appointed Steven Mnuchin as Treasury Secretary, a former Goldman Sachs banker who later acquired a failed lender that became One West, known as a “foreclosure machine” for foreclosing on over 36,000 homeowners.

February 15, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – CNN reports that President Donald Trump’s nominee for Labor Secretary, Andrew Puzder, has been withdrawn due to growing opposition in Congress as well as from organized labor.

February 7, 2017 (San Diego) – Two lawsuits have been filed against powerful labor leader Mickey Kasparian, president of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council and president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Local 135. Though neither of the cases have been heard in court, some prominent San Diegans are calling on Kasparian to resign.

February 7, 2017 (Sacramento) -- California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) yesterday proposed that workers who have been locked out by their employer or who go on strike against their employer should be eligible to file for unemployment insurance benefits for the duration of their work stoppage.

February 1, 2017 (La Mesa) – Don your Great Gatsby glam or cocktail attire for “All That Jazz,” the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce’s 9th annual Salute to Local Heroes and Installation of Officers dinner. This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 5-8 p.m. at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center’s Golden Ballroom in Mission Valley.

January 30, 2017 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa Chamber of Commerce president Mary England introduced Supervisor Dianne Jacob as a “ferocious fighters” who “doesn’t back down” on issues important to her constituents. Jacob, who was recently named Chair of the Board of Supervisors, spoke at the Chamber’s first meeting of the year, in keeping with an annual tradition.

January 27, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual Citizen of the Year Luncheon on Tuesday, February 7, from 12:00 - 2:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 1400 E. Washington Avenue in El Cajon.

January 24, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- The Trump Administration has not yet announced if it will roll back a rule imposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) during the Obama Administration that effective yesterday, imposes $125 million in new costs on propane consumers, according to a press release issued by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) last week.

Reprinted from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Network

January 22, 2017 (San Diego) - San Diego businesses reported a moderately optimistic outlook at the close of 2016, with two-thirds expecting the new Donald Trump administration to have a positive impact.

January 18, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – If you bought milk or other dairy products such as yogurt, half and half or cream anytime since 2003, you may be eligible for a refund through a class action suit that alleges price-fixing by the dairy industry. Claims must be submitted by January 31st.